Best Secret Islands on Earth

For white-sand beaches, salty breezes, freshly caught seafood, and no crowds, head to one of the world’s best secret islands.

Newfoundland: Fogo Island

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This may be the last place you’d expect to find an artistic awakening—it’s a fishing community off Newfoundland’s northeastern coast marked by craggy shores and miles of blissful nothingness. But thanks to residents Elísabet Gunnarsdóttir and Zita Cobb and architect Todd Saunders, the secluded island is becoming a cultural destination. The creative trio are behind Fogo Island Studios, a series of six cutting-edge artists’ ateliers that perch over the Atlantic. Rent a car to tour the modern buildings or consider a hike along the five-mile Turpin’s Trail; a partridgeberry-picking excursion (fogoislandpartridgeberryfestival.com); or a bowl of seafood chowder at Nicole’s Café(159 Main Rd., Joe Batt’s Arm; 709/658-3663; lunch for two $40). The Fogo Island Inn is set to open next year, but for now there’s Foley’s Place(709/658-7244; foleysplace.ca; doubles from $87), a historic B&B that dates back a century.

T+L Tip: Organize an outing with nature writer Roy Dwyer (709/658-3538; roydwyer@eastlink.ca), who will take you out on his boat and recount tales of Fogo’s storied past. —Karen Burshtein

Best Secret Islands on Earth

Newfoundland: Fogo Island

This may be the last place you’d expect to find an artistic awakening—it’s a fishing community off Newfoundland’s northeastern coast marked by craggy shores and miles of blissful nothingness. But thanks to residents Elísabet Gunnarsdóttir and Zita Cobb and architect Todd Saunders, the secluded island is becoming a cultural destination. The creative trio are behind Fogo Island Studios, a series of six cutting-edge artists’ ateliers that perch over the Atlantic. Rent a car to tour the modern buildings or consider a hike along the five-mile Turpin’s Trail; a partridgeberry-picking excursion (fogoislandpartridgeberryfestival.com); or a bowl of seafood chowder at Nicole’s Café(159 Main Rd., Joe Batt’s Arm; 709/658-3663; lunch for two $40). The Fogo Island Inn is set to open next year, but for now there’s Foley’s Place(709/658-7244; foleysplace.ca; doubles from $87), a historic B&B that dates back a century.

T+L Tip: Organize an outing with nature writer Roy Dwyer (709/658-3538; roydwyer@eastlink.ca), who will take you out on his boat and recount tales of Fogo’s storied past. —Karen Burshtein

Courtesy of Foley's Place

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By
Travel + Leisure Staff

Hollywood scouts were on to something when they skipped over Mykonos and chose a secret island in Greece as the location for Mamma Mia. The movie was a $600-million hit, in part because it fueled peoples’ fantasies of escaping to a secluded island (and yes, those catchy ABBA tunes didn’t hurt).

Surprisingly, that picture-perfect movie location, Skopelos, has stayed under the radar. When you hop off the ferry, you’ll be wowed by the view of the shimmering Aegean Sea, the island’s tile-roofed tavernas, and a decided lack of travelers.

There are still gems like Skopelos hidden all around the globe, if you know where to look. T+L editors have done the hunting for you to uncover secret islands where you can truly unwind, from the rugged Chilean spot that inspired the novel Robinson Crusoe to a tiny island in the Caribbean that was virtually deserted for decades until a luxe resort opened in 2010.

Similar high-end resorts have been popping up across Southeast Asia, where many islands are vying to be the next Phuket. So those looking to get far off the grid head to Con Dao, an archipelago 110 miles off Vietnam’s southeastern coast. Sheer granite cliffs border deserted beaches and crystal-blue water, and a private guide can lead you by motorbike to remote spots like the spectacular Dam Tre Bay lagoon.

Diving enthusiasts should opt instead for the secret island of Mabul, off the northeastern coast of Malaysia, where the marine life is on a par with the Galapagos. Even better, the native sea moths, bobtail squids, and elusive paintpot cuttlefish are some of the only inhabitants.

Travelers looking to commune with nature can also find solitude on Nicaragua’s acre-wide Jicaro Island on freshwater Lake Nicaragua. The nine casitas at Jicaro Island Ecolodge were built from storm-felled trees, and all the food is locally sourced; you can sip a passion-fruit-banana cocktail as you sit by the infinity pool.